Thermal conductivity against densityHigher and further left: spreads more heat for its weightThermal expansion against thermal conductivityLower and further right: warps less when heated
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Sources5 documents: Copper Development Association, Outokumpu, Wieland, Steel Construction Institute, Carpenter Technology
Copper C12200
C12200 phosphorus-deoxidized copper (DHP, the air-conditioning and refrigeration tube copper), tube annealed to 0.050 mm grain size (OS050), 0.065 in. wall, copper.org typical values
Stainless Steel 303
1.4305 / UNS S30300, Outokumpu typical values (hot rolled, solution annealed) from 'Steel Grades, Properties and Global Standards'; max service from Carpenter CarTech 303 datasheet
1
C12200 Alloy (copper.org)Copper Development Associationarchived copyCopper C12200 · Yield strength: typical, 0.5% extension under load, 0.065 in. tubeCopper C12200 · Ultimate tensile strength: typical, 0.065 in. tubeCopper C12200 · Elongation at break: typical, 0.065 in. tubeCopper C12200 · Young's modulus (stiffness): typicalCopper C12200 · Density: nominalCopper C12200 · Thermal conductivity: typical, 20 °CCopper C12200 · Thermal expansion: typical, mean 20-100 °CCopper C12200 · Specific heat: typical, 20 °CCopper C12200 · Melting point: liquidus
2
Steel Grades, Properties and Global StandardsOutokumpuarchived copyStainless Steel 303 · Yield strength: Outokumpu typical (product P = hot rolled plate, transverse)Stainless Steel 303 · Ultimate tensile strength: Outokumpu typicalStainless Steel 303 · Elongation at break: Outokumpu typical, A5Stainless Steel 303 · Young's modulus (stiffness): at RT (Table 12)Stainless Steel 303 · Density: at RTStainless Steel 303 · Thermal conductivity: at RTStainless Steel 303 · Thermal expansion: mean, 20–100 °CStainless Steel 303 · Specific heat: at RT
3
Wieland-K19 (Cu-DHP, C12200) Data SheetWielandarchived copyCopper C12200 · Poisson's ratio: reference value at room temperature (Wieland-K19 = Cu-DHP = C12200, rolled products)
4
Design Manual for Structural Stainless Steel, 4th Edition (P413)Steel Construction Institutearchived copyStainless Steel 303 · Poisson's ratio: design value (structural stainless steels)
5
Carpenter Stainless Type 303 Data SheetCarpenter Technologyarchived copyStainless Steel 303 · Max service temperature: continuous, scaling limit
Each number points to the document that states it, with the exact basis. Values without a number are computed from the sourced ones. "Not sourced" means no citable source states it (or only a specification minimum); figures computed from it are left out too.
Questions
Mechanical
Is Copper C12200 stronger than Stainless Steel 303?
Stainless Steel 303 is stronger: its yield strength is 275 MPa against 69 MPa for Copper C12200 (3.99x).
Which is lighter, Copper C12200 or Stainless Steel 303?
Stainless Steel 303 is lighter: 7,900 kg/m³ against 8,941 kg/m³ for Copper C12200.
Which is stiffer, Copper C12200 or Stainless Steel 303?
Stainless Steel 303 is stiffer: Young's modulus 200 GPa against 117 GPa for Copper C12200, so the same part in Stainless Steel 303 deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Copper C12200 or Stainless Steel 303?
For the same stiffness or strength: Stainless Steel 303 is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate, strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.
Part that must be
Copper C12200
Stainless Steel 303
Stiff rod or tie (tension)
1.93x heavier
lighter
Stiff beam (bending)
48% heavier
lighter
Stiff panel or plate
35% heavier
lighter
Strong rod or tie
4.51x heavier
lighter
Strong beam
2.84x heavier
lighter
Strong panel or plate
2.26x heavier
lighter
For the same stiffness or strength, mass scales with density over stiffness (or strength) raised to a power set by how the part is loaded: 1 for a rod in tension, 1/2 for a beam in bending, 1/3 for a panel (the standard material-selection indices).
Which is more ductile, Copper C12200 or Stainless Steel 303?
Copper C12200 stretches further before it breaks: 45% elongation at break against 35% for Stainless Steel 303.
Thermal
Which conducts heat better, Copper C12200 or Stainless Steel 303?
Copper C12200 conducts heat better: 339 W/m·K against 15 W/m·K for Stainless Steel 303.
Which expands less with temperature?
Stainless Steel 303 expands less: 16 µm/m·K against 16.9 µm/m·K for Copper C12200.